Chapter 9-1How Congress Is

Organized

bicameral, gerrymandering, constituent, franking privilege, immunity, expulsion, censure, session

The House of Representatives

• The Great Compromise established a bicameral or two house.

• There is distinct differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• 3 House Requirements:1.at least 25 years old.2.U.S. citizens for 7 years.3.must live in the state the represent.

The House of Representatives

• Other qualifications:• success in law or business• experience in state and local government or in

forms of public service.• Elected for 2 year terms• All representatives are elected at the same time.• 70-80% are re-elected.• No term limits on representatives.• 435 total representatives.

The House of Representatives

• Representatives are based on census population totals.

• House representatives districts are based on population. maps.kansasgis.org

• Congressional districts are drawn in ways that benefit the representatives. This is called gerrymandering.

• All the districts should have the same amount of constituents or population.

The Senate•Qualifications:1.must be at least 30 years old2.U.S. citizens for at least 9 years.3.Resident of the state they

represent.• Most senators are former house

representatives.

The Senate•Senators serve 6 year terms.•Every 2 years, 1/3 of the senators

run for re-election.•2 senators represent each state.

(100 total)•Senators do not represent specific

districts.

Salary, Benefits and Privileges

• Current salary is $175,000• free office space• parking• trips to their home state• assistants/office staff and supplies• they receive discounts on medical care, video

production and even haircuts.• Franking privilege: the right to send job related

mail free.

Salary, Benefits and Privileges

•Members of Congress cannot be arrested on their way to work. Can’t be sued for things they say or write.

•Members can face expulsion (removal from office). This requires 2/3rd vote of either house.

•Censure is formal disapproval. Their misbehavior made public.

Congressional Sessions

•Each new congress is given numbers.•Sessions are two regular time periods

generally one each year beginning on January 3 and continuing through November or December.

•Special sessions can be called by the President in cases of emergency.

• Joint sessions (House and Senate together) are mainly ceremonial.

Terms• bicameral: 2 house system.• gerrymandering: drawing district lines to ensure re-

election.• constituent: population of a district.• franking privilege: free postage for job related mail.• immunity: free from prosecution.• expulsion: removal from office.• censure: formal disapproval for less serious offenses.• session: congress works in two regular time periods.